Widescreen Gaming Forum

i want to run eyefinity on my 3 x 24"

so whats better 1 x hd 5970 or 2 x hd 5870???

there are tests where the 2 cards are better, but with 2 cards you have only 1 GB you can use am i right?





my system now:
i7 920
6 gb ram
2 x 8800 gtx
gigabyte ex58 extreme

In either solution you only have 1GB of VRAM. 5970 has 1 GB per GPU and 2x5870 has 1 GB per GPU. For the most part, I would go the two card route just for the fact that the clock rates will be higher. But personally, I'd say wait for the 5870 6th Edition in Which has 1 GPU and 2GB VRAM. If you wanna xFire, then just get two of those.

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System Core: | Intel Core i5-2500K + ASUS P8Z68-V + 16GB Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1333 MHz | Win7 x64 | MSI R7970 Lightning 3GB [1105/1400] |
Display: | 3 x Dell Ultrasharp 3007WFP-HC @ 7680x1600 | Dell u3011 |

In either solution you only have 1GB of VRAM. 5970 has 1 GB per GPU and 2x5870 has 1 GB per GPU. For the most part, I would go the two card route just for the fact that the clock rates will be higher. But personally, I'd say wait for the 5870 6th Edition in Which has 1 GPU and 2GB VRAM. If you wanna xFire, then just get two of those.

so why do it have 2 gb when you cant use it?

and how bad is the problem with the "mikro-stucks" (i hope you understand this -.-*) that sli and CF have

stutter problem isn't too bad AFAIK.

the 2GB is because the board has 2GB RAM soldered to it, doesn't say anything about each core can use all of it.

and

I would go 2x 5870 simply for better cooling of the cards, if your case accomodates it :)

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P8Z68-V Pro | 2600K | HR02 | HD5850 | 2x4GB Vengeance LP | 128GB M4 + 6TB | X-Fi > HD595 | AX850 | Tai Chi | PB278Q | G110 + Deathadder 2013
P8Z77-V | 3570K | Mugen 2 | HD5850 | 2x4GB Vengeance LP | 500GB | X-750 | Fractal R3 | U2212HM | G110 + G400
P8H77-I | G860 | 4650 | 2x2GB XMS | 320GB | CX500 | Prodigy | T22B350EW | MX518
DC3217IYE | 1x4GB Vengeance | 64GB M4 | TX-42VT20E

i will change the aircooler with waterblocks, so the cooling is no problem.....

If the cooling is no problem, I say go for the 5970... When ATI release drivers that accommodate quadfire + eyefinity you can always get another one.

The 2GB of VRAM would be nice though, but you're looking to buy now right? I'm running 7680x1600 and even though I can only use 1 5970 with eyefinity at the moment (seems due to drivers issues) it performs surprisingly well!

Just my 2c, either option will kick ass!

hmm is there any date when the 2 gb version comes out? or maybe a 4 gb version of the 5970?

If you will water cool then yeah get the 5970, just don't use a crappy off the shelf kit, and don't skimp on PSU!!!!

The card has another 1 line available from PCI-e connector, so there may be a 4GB one in the pipeline, although it may require 2x density memory modules, which may never come.

I wouldn't hold my breath but I would get a 5970 and maybe add one later.

_________________
P8Z68-V Pro | 2600K | HR02 | HD5850 | 2x4GB Vengeance LP | 128GB M4 + 6TB | X-Fi > HD595 | AX850 | Tai Chi | PB278Q | G110 + Deathadder 2013
P8Z77-V | 3570K | Mugen 2 | HD5850 | 2x4GB Vengeance LP | 500GB | X-750 | Fractal R3 | U2212HM | G110 + G400
P8H77-I | G860 | 4650 | 2x2GB XMS | 320GB | CX500 | Prodigy | T22B350EW | MX518
DC3217IYE | 1x4GB Vengeance | 64GB M4 | TX-42VT20E

the psu will be no problem, ive a 1000W corsair

and which one do i have to buy?, or are they all the same (hd 5970)(xfi/gigabyte/etc)

or the oc variation from sapphire?

whatever you want, afaik they all get the same speed binned chips. I have had coil whine on the X1900XTX I have had ever since it was installed, neither my retailer (Overclockers UK) or the manufacturer (Sapphire) will swap it based on that alone, but I can't exactly say it's been the perfect card. Anyway, nothing says you will have better luck with another manufacturer either :P

_________________
P8Z68-V Pro | 2600K | HR02 | HD5850 | 2x4GB Vengeance LP | 128GB M4 + 6TB | X-Fi > HD595 | AX850 | Tai Chi | PB278Q | G110 + Deathadder 2013
P8Z77-V | 3570K | Mugen 2 | HD5850 | 2x4GB Vengeance LP | 500GB | X-750 | Fractal R3 | U2212HM | G110 + G400
P8H77-I | G860 | 4650 | 2x2GB XMS | 320GB | CX500 | Prodigy | T22B350EW | MX518
DC3217IYE | 1x4GB Vengeance | 64GB M4 | TX-42VT20E